PRESS RELEASE

Capuano Urges Chinese Government To Release Dr. Yang JianliWednesday Marked 1,000th Day of His Detention

January 19, 2005

Congressman Mike Capuano is urging the Chinese government to grant Dr. Yang Jianli, President of the Boston-based Foundation for China in the 21st Century, a medical parole and immediately release him from prison. January 19, 2005 marked the 1,000th day of Dr. Yang Jianli's detention.

"Dr. Yang Jianli suffered a stroke in prison and has not fully recovered. He is in need of medical attention and I urge the Chinese government to release him immediately. Chinese officials have treated Dr. Yang Jianli very poorly since he was first detained in April of 2002. For well over two years, Dr. Yang was denied access to his family and the Chinese government withheld information about his whereabouts. Only recently, officials allowed Dr. Yang to see his wife. He was not formally sentenced until May of 2004, when he was ordered to serve five years in prison, including time served," stated Congressman Capuano.

"I urge the People's Republic of China to release Dr. Yang immediately so that he may seek medical treatment. I am troubled by their treatment of Dr. Yang and of other principled dissidents. I urge the Chinese government to respect human rights." Congressman Capuano Wednesday also repeated demands he has made to Chinese officials in Beijing.